Grey consolidates the South with senior creative directors

The agency has promoted Vishnu Srivatsav and Sham Ramachandran, giving them larger roles

Vishnu Srivatsav, creative director, copy, Grey Bengaluru and Sham Ramachandran, creative director, art, Grey Bengaluru, have been promoted as senior creative directors. Both will have the added responsibility of looking after the creative duties of the agency for the southern region. This includes the Chennai and the Bengaluru offices. They will operate from the Bengaluru office of the group.

Both of them started their careers around the year 2000. While Srivastav joined RK Swamy/BBDO in 2000, Ramachandran started off with Network. They met at FCB Ulka (DraftFCB+Ulka now) in 2001. Subsequently, they have moved to different agencies together as a team.

When & #BANNER1 & # Grey Chennai re-started its operations in the city, the duo were brought in as a relatively young copy and art team in 2003. For a small new branch, they worked passionately to win brands such as Sabena-Dish Washing Bar, Aircel, Java Green, Spencer's and Kiwi.

In 2006, they moved to Grey Bengaluru. Along with Hari Krishnan, associate vice-president and branch head, they worked hard to consolidate Grey's footing in the city. Besides working on existing businesses such as Britannia, 3M and ITC Foods, the Bengaluru branch added new brands such as Deccan Cargo and Express Logistics, Wockhardt, Post-it Notes and Scotch Tape. The agency added the account of the Kirtilal Kalidas Group (retailers of gold and diamond jewellery), estimated to be worth Rs 12 crore, in January 2009.

The duo's works for Sabena, Kiwi and Spencer's has won metals at the Abby's and the Ad Club Chennai. Speaking to afaqs!, Srivastav says, "Both Bengaluru and Chennai are dynamic markets and have a tremendous potential to do great work. Personally, I strongly feel that the southern market is not much different from other markets of the country and needs to be dealt with carefully."

According to Ramachandran, this is truly a homecoming of sorts. He says, "Grey Chennai is where it all began for us. And going back, hopefully, is going to be like Godfather II. A sequel - but way better."

Shalini Dam, national creative director, Grey, in an official statement, says, "Vishnu and Sham have produced some stunning work for us at Grey. Their passion is truly infectious. We can expect to see exciting and surprising work from them in the future. I wish them all the very best for their new assignment."